Springs



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,192

A. L. BLOMFIELD ET AL PROCESS OF SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed May 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,192

A. L. BLOMFIELD ET AL PROCESS OF SEPARA'I'ING somns FROM LIQUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Fi i 3 INVLNTOR. ,4. L B/omfie/d A .6. Harner #8. (20

TORNE Y.

Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,192

A. L. BLOMFIELD ET AL PROCESS OF SERARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed May 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORS A L. B/om fie/d BY 1. .6 f/arner 80 fr- 6. Ooe

Feb. 12, 19 29. 1,702,192

A. BLOMFIELD ET AL PROCESS OF SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS Filed Maly 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR6 L B/omFm/d .6. Harnen /-/.S.C0e

A TTORNEYv Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALFRED L.. BLOMFIELD AND LOYAL S. HARNER, OF COLORADO fiiPRING-S, COLORADO,

AND HARRISON S. COE, 0F LAWRENCE, KAllSAS, ASSIGN'OES, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEHTS, TO THE GYCLE COMPANY, OF COLORADO SPRINGS,

TION OF COLORADO.

COLORADO, A CORPORA- P BOOESS OF SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

Application filed May 12,

- This invention relates to a process of separating solids from liquids in the treatment L J JlS of metallurigical and chemi- V processes, by what is commonly known in i art its-thickening or clarification and the primary object oi our invention is to pro- Vltliz an efficient and highly expeditions method or" effecting a clean separation of solids from liquids in materials of the abovestated character by subjecting them to a settling action above a filtering medium with a concurrent withdrawal of supernatant and subsurface liquids. v

.A further object oi the invention is to combine with the actions above referred to, a simultaneous removal of separated solids, and another object is to maintain the filtering medium in a condition of maximum efficiency by the constant or periodic removal oi its fouled. upper strata with the settled and thickened solids.

'lhe percolative action of the process is obviously dependent on the force under which the liquid passes through the filtering medium and it is another object of the invention to regulate said force according to known requirements by a manual or automatic control of the ratio of pressures above and below the settling surface.

Still further objects of the invention reside inthe construction and arrangement of the operating parts of the mechanism employed to carry the process into practice, as wlll 1" 1lly appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, several embodiments of the invention have been shown and corresponding parts of the appaed' the several views have been ted by ilar characters of reference; A re 1 represents plan view of our thickenedand ciarilier in its simplest form; and i Figure a central vertical section through the apparatus along the line 2-42, Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a similar section including certain modifications for the regulation of :surcs and the decantation by percolation e clari lied supernatant liquid;

ire elrepresents in combination with a la ing and clarifying unitot the type shown in Figure 1, a superimposed thicken- 1924. Serial No. 712,659.

ing unit for the preliminary-treatment of the material; v V

Figure 5 shows the co-operative combination of two units of the type illustrated in Figure 1; V

Figure 6' illustrates a modified method of regulating the ratio of pressures above and below the settling area; Figure 7 illustrates the regulating means 111 an automatic system;

Figure 8 represents a sectional and fragmentary elevation of a mechanism for the operation of the device employed for the removal of settling solids;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows an enlarged sectional view oi the bearing for the support of the welliforming and cleaning part of the mechanism Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the scraper element of the mechanism and the corresponding end of the driving member by which it is operated; and 1 Figure 12 illustrates a modified method 0 regulating the ratio of pressures above and below the filter bed of the apparatus.

Referring firstto Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings which illustrate the apparatus in its simplest form, 5 designates a preferably cylindrical tank which by a perforated partition 6 is divided into upper and lower compartments 7 and 8.

The partition 6 which constitutes the filter bottom of the apparatus may be'made'of wood, cocoa matting, burlap, coarse rock or other suitable pervious material and it is supported upon sills 9 in spaced relation to the bottom of the tank.

The upper compartment 7 contains a filtering medium 10 composed of sand, charcoal or other permeable material which is supported upon the partition 6 and which has a central well or passage 12 in 'alined connection with :1 preferably funnel-shaped duct 13 between central openings in the filter bottom and the bottom 01 the tank.

The alined passages function in the operation of the machine for the removal of thickened solids subsided upon the filter bed and they connect with a conduit 14 which conducts the thickened matter to a distant point of discharge.

The removal of the matter discharged into "the Well by the action of a scraping mechanected at the end of the conduit 14. A dia phragm' pump is well adapted for the purpose but since the specific vconstruction or arrangement of the pump is not a part of the present invention, the pump has not been shownin the drawings.

The tank has at its upper edge a peripheral overflow launder for the deeantation of clearliquid rising above the settling solids, and a feed-chute 76 is disposed to deposit freshmaterial into the upper com'mrtment of the tank.

The thickened matter settling at the surface of the filter bed is mechanically removed therefrom into the central well 12 which as stated hereinbefore connects by means of the duct 13 with the discharge conduit 14-, and the filter bed is maintained in a condition of maximum eliiciencybythe simultaneous removal of its fouled upper strata.

In order to accomplish this object while the machine is in operation, ve provide a :scraper element capable of removing the top layer of the filter bed together with the superimposed thickened solids in connection with an operating mechanism including means for feeding the scraper downwardly at re gn lar intervals in its operative movement.

A mechanism of simple construction well adapted to produce the above stated results, has been shown in detail in Figures 8 to 1]. of the drawings, but it is to be understood that other means may be employed within the spirit of the present ivention which relates more particularly to the processof clarification and thickening and to the apparatus which performs the process by an interdependent removal of supernatant andsabsurface liquids as stated hereinbeforc.

The mechanism above referred to comprises one or more scraper blades 16 preferably curved in the direction of their rotary Vmoyement and connected at the lower end of an upright shaft 17. V A torquetubeli through which the loosely passes -is fitted for rotation in bearings 19 and 20 and a drive-spider 2-1 keyed to the torque tube atthe lower end thereot is operatively connected with the scraper b y means of a pivoted drive arm 22.

The connection between the drive-arm and the scraper is established through the medi um of a clevis s3 embracing the curved lower extremity of the drive arm, as best shown in V Figurell, and holding it in sliding relation tothe scraper whereby to permit of the independent outward movement of the arn'i to "compensate forthe varying distance between its rpo int of contact with the scraper and its point of connection with the t rque tube by longitudinal movement of the shaft. The rigidity of the scraper may be increased by the provision of a brace 2% connecting with a collar on the shaft.

Rotatably supported upon the upper hearing 19 is a feed-arm 26 which is connected for rotation with the shaft by means of a sliding key 27. The arm is formed on a hub 28 which meets the upper end of the torque tube within the bearing and it carries at its outer end a pinion 29 which meshes with a gran wheel 30 rotatably supported upon the hub.

. The upper portion of the shaft jll' has a screw thread in operative engagementwith a corresponding female thread in the hub of the gear wheel for its longitudinal movement by rotation of the wheel as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The feed arm 26 carries in addition to the pinion pawl-carrier Ell which is pivoted to move about the axis of the pinion and which held yieldingly in its normal position by a spring 32. The normal position of the carrier is adjustable by means of a ratchet return stop shown in Figure 9.

One or more pawls 33 on the carrier engage with the pinion, and one or more stops 31lare tit-zed on suitable supports in the path of a shoulder 2-35 on the carrier to etlect a pivotal inoveincnt of the latter at predctcinincd int rvals in the rotary movement of the man.

A drive gea 3b keyed on the torque lube above the bearing 20 upon which it is supported, and a worm 3'7 meshing with the gear connected with a conveniently located mo tor or other source of energy.

It will be apparent that by the above described arrang en'ient, the torque tube is louo'itudinally immovable wnile the shaft is lice to move'anially within the same and that both the shaft and the torque tube are compelled to rotate in unison by the driving actlon'ot the gear wheel 36. he the shaft revolves the shoulder of the pawl carrier ill on the feed arm 26 comes periodically in contact with one or another of the fried abutmenls il-lthereby causing the carrier to move about its pivot which by the action of a pawl 32 rotates the pinion in case two or more pawl.- are arranged upon the carrier they will engage the pier consecutively and thus coordinate to rotate the pinion through a definitely nmasured arc .1 told Li a W The scraper moves the solids settling on the surface of the filter medium to and into the central well 12 and the downward movement of the scraper periodically effected by the action of the feed-appliance included in the operating mechanism, compels it to simultaneously remove the fouled upper strata of the filter bed and thereby maintains the latter in a condition of maximum efficiency.

The movement of the matter impelled and loosened by the scraper, to the centralwell of the filter bed, is facilitated by slanting the surface of the bed from the peripheral edge thereof inwardly as shown in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that conditions may arise which render it expedient to retard the movement of the material by maintaining the surface in a substantially horizontal plane or by slanting it in an opposite direction from the center of the tank.

The wall of the discharge well 12 is preferably made in the shape of an inverted cone or funnel to accelerate the movement of the solids to the discharge opening in the bottom of the tank, and the wall may be protected against caving by lining it with either a downwardly movable shell or with a layer of destructible material which can be removed by the scraper with the upper strata of the filter bed.

In order'to prevent the adherence of solid matter to the wall of the well and to constantly keep it in the desired size and form, scraper 38 slanted to conform with the slope of thewell is mounted on the spider 21 which carries the drive arm of the surface scraper 16, and is by means of a pintle 55 rotatably supported upon a step-bearing 39 placed transversely of the opening in the bottom of the tank at the lower end of the well.

Another similar scraper 75 rigidly attached to the pintle 55 extends in the funnel-shaped duct 13 at the lower end of the well for the purpose of preventing accumulation of matter, by its rotary motion along the wall thereof. In the operation of our invention, the material is fed through the chute 76 into the compartment 7 of the tank above the filter bed where the solid constitutes of the liquid V excess of the percolative capacity of the filter bed and the liquid rising out of the settling solids is gradually clarified in a Zone which normally extends above the level of the over- 1 flow determined by the peripheral outlet of the tank which connects with the launder 15.

' It will thus be evident that in the operation of the machine contingent upon a continuous feed, clear liquid isdischarged above and below the filter bed by what may be termed an overflow and an underflow while the solid residue is removed through the cen tral well. The underfiow which is effected under natural or mechanically increased or decreased pressures coordinate with the overflow, produces a thickened pulp of greater density than that ordinarily obtained in machines depending on only an overflow for the removal of clarified liquid, and it moreover increases the capacity of the machine without extension of thesettling area.

Aside from other points of advantage, the last mentioned feature is economically of considerable importance in that it saves floor space and cost of installation and in that it increases the capacity of the plant without advance in the expenditure of power or expense of operation.

It has moreover been observed that the extraction of clear liquidbelow the filter bed has a decided advantageous influence upon the rate of settlement above the same.

The percolation of the liquid is controlled by the ratio in pressures above and below the filter bed and is therefore proportionate to the head of liquid in thetank.

It is desirable, however, to at times expedite and accelerate the percolative action by a negative pressure maintained below the filter bed by the exhaust of air from the space between the filter bottom and the bottom of the tank and with this object in view said space may be connected by means of a con duit 40 to a vacuum pump which forcibly draws the liquid through the filter bed and delivers it to a conveniently disposed tank or reservoir.

It will be understood without further illustration that the sills 9 on which the filter bed is supported are either broken or apertured to place the entire space below the bed in communication with the outlet in the bottom of the tank, to which the conduit 40 is connected. a

The operation of the machine as hereinabove described is subject to pressure variations owing to the gradual lowering of the filtering bed, changes in the feed and other circumstances, and in order to maintain a substantially uniform separative action, it is desirable that means he provided to control the ratio in pressures above and belowthe filwhich this feature of our invention is based.

When a suction pump is used in connection with the discharge pipe 40, the ratio of pros sures aboveandbelow the filter bed is readily regulatedby varying the velocity of the pump or by otherwise controlling its effect upon wess is restricted to preset 7 under which the above stated adverse condition is hableto occur, thus limiting the caq the percolative action, but it has been found more simple under ordinary working conditions to maintain a uniform predetermined pressure ratio by controlling the head of liquid above the filter bed. Thus in Figure 3 has been shownastand pipe ll connected at its lowerend with an outlet of the space beneath the filter bed.

The stand pipe has a movable upper section 42 connected to its body portion by a flexible jointv -13 and suitable means such as a toothed segment 4.4: and a, locking detent 45, are provided to hold the upper section at an adjusted angle relative to the body portion of the pipe.

The percolated liquid rises in the stand pipe and by lowering or elevating the open end of: the pipe by adjustment of its upper section, the ratio of pressures above and below the filter bed may be maintained at any predetermined degree. In this connection, it must be understood that the rise cit-clear liquid in the stand pipe is dependent on'the density of the liquid above the filter bed, the resistance oilered by the filter bed to the downward movement of the liquid and the height of the overflow level above the surface of the filter bed.

' A similar result is automatically obtained by the means illustrated in Figure 12 in" 1 which the ooen end of a ri 'id stand pi 3e 46 connected as before, is normally closed by a valve 47 which is counterbalanced by a Weight' lS through the medium of a lever l. When the vacuum below the filtering medium increases beyond a predetermined degree, the valve is opened and air enters to relieve the vacuum until the apparatus is restored to its normal condition. y

In the preceding part of the description, the process aas been considered as beingcontinuou-s in that it combines with a substantially uniform feed, a continuous mxerfiow, a continuous discharge oi percolated liquid and an uninterrupted removal of settling solids and it is apparent that in order to 1naintain the working condition or the apparatus in which the process is conducted, it is es sential that the filter bed he constantly at or near its normal state of permeability and that its upper portion remain in a condition which permits otthe ready removal of its upper strata by the revolving scrapers.

Excessive pressure it continuously maintained above the filter bed-will compact the material at the surface thereof to such an extent that its removal by the revolving scrap ers becomes practically impossible and it will therefore be evidentthat the continuous proc- *e ratio below that pacity ot' the machine v The process may, howeven'be conducted under a'pressure which would be prohibitive in a continuous operation, by reducing or discontinuing the surface pressure at regular i ralsand by periodically interrupting discharge of solidsby intermittent ope '2 s no scrapers.

I fil the drawings, a valve 50 ions between the space he- )eu, the stand pipe -l 5 and the l tank 51 is mounted at stand pipe to provide ch oqualizes the preshe her bed when the O m a: *4

connected to the performs the nor section of the pipe horeinbei oro described. ion between the machine .np is cut oil by adjusti c .r .1 Ni. 1

or t io valve, the

K. centlnuorsly open in which the solids into the conduit )0 1 {)i y collect l.

ected witl s r .u or connects oi .1 1:1 the leer-i end 0! e neiluoi ii serves to DIGYOD ""o '1 oi? the sun; 1 a d to ii uci e the reo accumulating matte by a stirring l the lJLRCY'iE has been 1llus to uutoui: really reverse a l l churrici or at pre- '1 .cscri ecu o snnultuneously from the filter K'h 533 controls irtic d rice 5'? a :1d a magnetic "wreu the driving L- cated by conductors 59 connected with a source of filiit'lllCltry 60, and a time-limit switch (31 is connected in multiple with the time-switch to restrain 'th operation of the scraping mechanism during the intervals in which the subspace of the filter element is in operatire connection with ti o vacuum pump.

t will be understood that the switches cooperate to periodically open and close the circuit and to thereby control the variations in pressure-ratio and the removal of solids as hereinbetore described.

lhe capacity of the apparatus may iturtherinore be increased by super-posing a ries oi units one above another in connection with a common operating mechanism i moval of the solids. sin arrangement oi this character has been illustrated in Figure in which a thickenertray oi' the type shown in the patent to Bloinfield, No. 1,23'lfM-5, is placed above a clarifier and thickener constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The two thickeners are mounted in the same tank and the upper thickener comprises a slanting bottom 62 provided with a central opening 63 for the discharge of thickened solids above the well of the lower thickener. Scraper arms 64 impel the settled solids to the discharge opening 63 by connection with the rotating torque tube of the operating mechanism oi. the scrapers of the lower thickener.

The overflow of clear liquid rising from the solids settling in the two units passes through pipes 78 and 7'9 to a launder 65.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, two units identically alike and each constructed in ac cordance with our invention superposed one above the other. A single tank-construction is adapted to both units by the provision of a partition 67 which constitutes he bottom of the upper unit, the scrapers of the two units are connected with a commoh operating mechanism and the thickened solids removed from the filter bed of the upper unit are dis- I chargel through an opening 68 in the partition. above the well of the lower unit.

in order to effect a downwaru feed of the scrapers in both units while they rotate in unison about their conunonaxis, the driving mechanism has been slightly modified as shown in the drawing, by the provision of an arm 77 connected to the drive spider 21, which engages with the scraper arm 16 ot the lower unit and by attaching the well scraper 38 ot the same unit to a'loose collar 7 8 on the shaft 17.

It will be readilyapparent that an arrangement of the character shown in Figures r and 5 greatly increases the capacity of the machine at a comparatively low cost of installation and operation and without 0ccupyiug; more floor space than a single unit, and it will be understood without further illustration that any plurality of units may in this manner be combined to still further increase the settling area and the corresponding capacity of the apparatus.

The overflow at the top of the tank for the decantatien of clear liquid rising out of settling solids may be dispensed with by dischargin the clear liquid through the filter bed tog icr with the filtrate from the thickened material. This result is accomplished by regulating the feed so that the level of liquid in the tank indicated by the line 69 in Figure 3 is adjacent the peripheral edge of the filter bed and the divisional plane 7 0 between the clear zone 71 and the zone 72 of i. in suspel'ision intersects the bed at a :tance from said edge. This keeps the marial portion ofthe filter bed in the clear settling zone and permits the supernatant clear rter to percolate through the bed in exterior and distinct of the part of through which. passes the liquid of the more settled material.

What we claim and desire to secure by Let Patent is: 1. clarifying and thickening process which consists in passing a mixture of liquid and solids upon a column of filtering marial. maintaining a liquid head above the ltering; material, removing successive layle column of filtering material toih deposits contained thereon, withfiltra-te from the bottom 01 the column of filtering material, feeding the mixture upon the column a substantial distance below the top of the liquid head in excess oi the amount required to maintain the liquid head and withdrawing the excess liquid the 2. Pro

top of the liquid head. cess according to claim 1, wherein led upon the column of filtertl e surrace thereof. accoi cn o LO claim 1, includlng oi repulat he etlective pressure LO maintain a substanrrorm rate of percolation through (u. .2 he nltering material.

in testimony whereoi we have mixed our si n natures.

ALFRED L. BLOMFIELD. LOYAL S. HABNER. HARRISON S. COE. 

